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A Letter From Lailahttps://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/2016/04/07/a-letter-from-laila/
https://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/2016/04/07/a-letter-from-laila/#respondThu, 07 Apr 2016 02:17:54 +0000http://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/?p=469Read more "A Letter From Laila"]]>It was challenging to portray this character correctly, but it was fun to become someone else. I want to be accurate when I am presenting Laila because she is from a different culture than I. That is a difficult thing to do, but as a reader I can get inside this character’s mind and try to think how she would.

By taking on a this persona it was also very rewarding. It was rewarding because I got to write something from someone else’s point of view. I got to step into someone else’s shoes and become that person. This was like playing dress up for me, only as a future English teacher this is a more adult version of it. I am very glad that my prompt was a choice for this blog.

This letter is from Laila, she is a character from Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns. She is a young who has had some tragic events happen in her life that have forced her to marry when she was just fifteen years old. Below is a letter written in the perspective of Laila about living in Afghanistan during the 1980s-1990s.
She is now thirty years old and reflecting back on her life.

Dear Reader,

I would like to start by introducing myself. My name is Laila and I am now in my early twenties. I have lived in Afghanistan all my life. As a child, my

Image from jordanfel.files.wordpress.com

father encouraged me to go on to a higher education after graduation. Most girls in my country are forced to get married after they are finished with school. Some girls do not even finish school and are pulled out to get married. The parents of these girls cannot always provide for them. That is one reason why girls are married so young, and the marriages are arranged.

I have seen many of my friends have this fate. I thought I would not follow the norm for women in my culture but I did.

I have experienced death. The death of my two brothers as they fought in the war, and the death of my parents. My parents and I were packing to leave Afghanistan one day and we are bombed. Both of my parents lost their lives and I lived through it. I was severely injured from the bomb though.

When I woke up I did not know where I was. I later learned I was at my neighbor’s’ house, Mariam and Rasheed. Mariam mainly takes care of me and Rasheed just watches me. I later found out that he was courting me for marriage. I felt like I no choice but to marry him.

I found out I was pregnant before the marriage. The baby belonged to my friend who had left Afghanistan because of the bombing and Taliban rising to power. I thought I would never see Tariq again. So I did what I had to do to survive and not be thrown out on the streets, so I married him. He was in his fifties when we got married.

From there things started to go downhill. I became afraid of him because he would have a temper or be in a mood. One tiny thing could set him off. I was hit, beaten, threatened, and I was almost killed. I bore him two children too, something his first wife could not give him. That did not matter though, he still abused me.

His other wife, Mariam, and I became close after I had my first child, Aziza. Mariam had always wanted a child but was not able to. She looked at Aziza as her own and helped me out with her more than I needed. That was the point where we became friends. Before Aziza Mariam despised me. We then started to stand up for each other against Rasheed. Poor Mariam, I cannot imagine the abuse she has faced before I came. How many years she cried out for help and no one hear her.

No one could do anything about it. In my country, the government does not believe in the police interfering with problems at home. No, that is up to our husbands. That is one reason why so many women are abused.

Mariam and I escaped from the horrors of Rasheed’s house. Mariam was taken away from me though. I did not know how I could move on with my life. I saw the sparkle in my children’s eyes and realized that I had to move on. I had to find a better life for my children, and I did just that.

Now here I am in my thirties with my three children and my husband. My life is good and I am safe now. Every morning and every night my husband reminds me that I am safe. It is a good reminder for me to hear.

If there was one thing I learned from those years it is this, you have to just keep going because eventually something better is coming. If I were to give up I would not have another child and a husband whom I love very much. I would still be living under Rasheed’s reign of terror and I would have lost myself.

As you read Mariam’s story and my story it may tear you apart. That is not why we are telling our stories though. We believe our stories can speak for many more Afghan women. We want you to be informed and help us change this norm.

~Laila

]]>https://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/2016/04/07/a-letter-from-laila/feed/0athousandsplendidsunsbekahenchiladawg-afghanistan-1-400x30024d42d41bc52eb9971d1582b6b6dedaeThe New Fairy Taleshttps://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/the-new-fairy-tales/
https://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/the-new-fairy-tales/#respondWed, 23 Mar 2016 15:21:57 +0000http://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/?p=336Read more "The New Fairy Tales"]]>When I was reading through the New Fairy Tales, I was making connections to stories I heard as a child. The characters had a familiar feel to me. I felt like I was going back to my childhood. This helped me interpret the new fairy tales I was reading because they had similar characters, some had the same or similar names, and themes.

I chose to read the fairy tale “Dollface.” In the link is the actual fairy tale I read. This fairy tale reminded me a little bit of Pinocchio, but the doll in this story remained a doll. The story starts out with the doll in the process of being completed. The doll knows that something about him is not right, like part of his body is not there. When his is finally able to walk he meets the young child. She enjoys playing with him. This is his first relationship or contact with a human, yet he understands emotions and thoughts. The girl grows up and eventually stops playing with the doll. He is then paired up with another doll that is not like him. He tries to develop a relationship with her but fails to do so. The end of the story is when she finally does talk though and when she does she says “doll.” The doll learns the truth about what he is; a doll.

Photo from img0.etsystatic.com

This fairy tale goes deeper than just a story for children. I interpreted it as a relationship between a parent and a child. The doll represents the child who has been neglected over time by the parent. The child feels a connection to the parent and wants to stay around because of that. The young child represents the parent that “lost interest” in the child. Maybe something tragic happens in the parent’s life and they turn to alcohol to escape. In the fairy tale, the doll tries so hard to get the young child to listen. The doll slowly starts to get dehumanized by the young child, or the parent starts to treat the child like a pest or something that just takes up space.

In the end of the fairy tale the doll’s fabric wears and it rips. The doll desperately wants to feel something to know he is alive, but disappointed when he feels nothing. He waits for death to come but death does not come. I interpreted this as the child becomes broken from the neglect and it starts to wear on the child. Maybe even the parent gets into a new relationship and the partner is abusive to the child that they bear scars. The child wants to be dead because they do not know why this is happening to them. The parent does nothing like the young child in the fairy tale. The young child had grown up and moved on from the doll, just like the parent had moved on from their child. They both did not care anymore about the things of the past and had a new life.

The ending of the fairy tale made me really sad for the doll. The doll learns the truth about what he really is, a toy. Going back to the child and the parent interpretation, I think that this could be interpreted as the parent or their new partner, telling the child they are useless. When I think of toys I think that there is an appropriate age for each one. Being a nineteen-year-old college freshmen, I am definitely too old for such toys. I would say that for me they are useless because I do not get any educational value out of them now like I did when I was younger. This is where my thought process is going when I interpret “toy” as the parent telling the child they are useless. They do not fit in their life anymore; they have outgrown the child.

The conventions used in this fairy tale helped me with the understanding of this story. This fairy tale was written from the point of view of the doll, first person. As the reader, I was able to know what the doll was thinking and feeling. That is very important when reading the fairy tale. If the young child had told the story it would have changed the entire story. I believe there would not be as much emotion as the author wanted.

Another convention used in this fairy tale was the struggle of wanting to be human. This helped me better understand what I was reading. Every fairy tale seems to have some sort of struggle which makes the fairy tale what it is. The struggle of the doll wanting to become human was very relatable. I think everyone has a moment at some point in their life when some dehumanizes them. For example, if you were bullied or not wanted by a family member, those are times we would feel dehumanized. That is why this struggle helped me understand this fairy tale so well. I have been in the position of the doll and it does make you feel like you are dead.

]]>https://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/the-new-fairy-tales/feed/0IMG_15240bbekahenchiladail_fullxfull.856069990_a1s8.jpgOut of Order Reviewhttps://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/09/out-of-order-review/
https://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/09/out-of-order-review/#respondWed, 09 Mar 2016 20:43:31 +0000http://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/?p=265Read more "Out of Order Review"]]>Image from washingtondc.showbizradio.com

I really enjoyed attending this performance of Out of Order. It is really interesting to see a play that was read for a class come to life. When I first sat down at the table I did not know what to expect because this was my first dinner theatre production. The play was about Mr. Willey’s and Jane Worthington’s affair while working in Parliament. Things spiral out of control when they find a dead body in the hotel. The play goes from bad to worse as more and more characters get involved in some way in the play. Seeing how this was all performed on stage gave me a different view of the play.

By reading the play first, it gives you a better understanding of the play. For example, the play tells you it is set in England, but when you see the play live you have to gather that information on your own. The time and place of the play are given before even reading the play, 8:30 pm in September at the Westminster Hotel. When you see the play it does not tell you this information unless it is in the program. If the play is read first, then there will be a better understanding of the play itself.

When you read a play first you know what to expect, but you do not know the director’s interpretation on the play. This is why it is beneficial to read the play first. If the play is read, then a basic idea of what the play is about is formed. When it is seen live then how the reader may have interpreted it may not match the director’s interpretation. Also, the director may have completely changed the setting and/or time period to show their take on the play. For example, when I went to go see Romeo and Juliet a year ago I had read the play before seeing it. The play had the same plot line as the book, but it took place during World War I. All of the characters were accurate to the original play, but the setting and time period were changed. Out of Order could have easily made this kind of change and the audience may not have grasped the meaning Ray Cooney had intended.

Reading a play can encourage the audience to use their imagination to guess what the character may look, act, and dress like. The play gives us very vague descriptions of the characters before the first act. However, after reading the play and then seeing it those characters will come to life. When I go to a play I feel like I am a part of it, like it is happening around me. When I read a play I feel like a bystander who is omniscient. I know what the characters are thinking and feeling because I see more than just the dialogue.

When seeing a play live, all of the stage directions that were in the script are being followed while performing. When I was reading Out of Order and came across stage directions I was very confused. It was hard to imagine the characters moving from point a to point b. Seeing it live, I did not even have to think about the stage directions. I just watched the characters move. The stage directions can give insight to the way a character is feeling, however.

Reading a play first, then seeing it live is a good thing. I believe that someone who has read the play first has a better understanding of what the play is about and trying to convey to the audience. If someone were to see the play first and then read it, I feel like that person would not get as much out of the play if they did not read it first. There is just something about seeing the lines of the actors and actresses on a page. There is a deeper understanding of those words than just hearing them. When I read something that someone wrote I can go back and reread it and dig deeper into what was written. In a play you cannot keep going back to the play over and over again. That is why if you read the play first and understand that what is being said is important and the meaning behind it. Not every single line has a deep and complex meaning but there are key lines that do.

Overall, I did enjoy this play and was very glad to have read it before hand. When I saw the play live I knew what to expect, except concerning the costumes, I expected that the ladies would be covered a little more. It is really interesting to see a play come alive. It is like a way for inexpensive travel: you can go to a different place in a different time and it feels so real. That is what I felt when I went to see this play. That is one reason I love going to any play. I am a broke college student who has a desire to see the world. One part of that can come from reading the play, and the other part comes from seeing it live.

]]>https://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/09/out-of-order-review/feed/0bekahenchilada2013-tap-out-of-orderThe SAT Becomes More Reading-Heavyhttps://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/2016/02/18/the-sat-becomes-more-reading-heavy/
https://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/2016/02/18/the-sat-becomes-more-reading-heavy/#respondThu, 18 Feb 2016 13:12:37 +0000http://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/?p=218Read more "The SAT Becomes More Reading-Heavy"]]>Reading is very important in our society. It helps us learn, be creative, and it entertains us. However, reading can also be used to test our abilities. Imagine you are a high school student who plans on attending college. You get good grades and having been studying hard for the SAT, but you hear news that the SAT has been revamped. Wouldn’t this worry you a little bit? In this blog post I will be responding to an article from the New York Times that focus on the changes to the SAT. These changes have made the SAT more “reading-heavy,” which makes it harder for students who struggling with reading comprehension or story problems to succeed at the SAT.
Image from aei.org

I feel that by making the SAT more reading-heavy, all students will be put at a disadvantage. Before the SAT was changed, math problems were easier to understand. According to the author of this article, Anemona Hartocollis, the math problems take the form of a narrative. That means reading the problem will take time better spent solving it. Students may finish fewer problems with this format. By formatting the math section as a narrative, neither students who are good at math nor students who are good at English will be successful. Narratives do not belong in math. A story problem is one thing, but a math problem should not be longer than that. For the students who do not do well on the math portion, this could confuse them even more, resulting in a lower score. Making the SAT more reading-heavy brings about more disadvantages.

Why should you care?

A test should not define a student. I have never been a very good test taker and my scores do not reflect my ability. I had to take the SAT three times just to get a good enough score to get into college on a scholarship that was the lowest. Why are we letting tests define how a student will do in college? It should not be based on a test but on the student as a whole.

Image from youniversitytv.com

For those of you who are parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, students, and other extended family, this affects you as well. It is likely that you know someone who is trying to get into a college. Applying more reading based questions could result in lower scores. Perhaps you have a daughter or niece who has studied really hard for the SAT. The day the scores are posted she sees her score is not high enough to get into a college. As a family member or close relative to that student, how do you feel? There will be more like her that will not get into college. The acceptance rate of colleges will go down because of this test.

Image from k-state.edu

The article talks about how more students are now taking the ACT over the SAT. I support this decision because the ACT has a math, english, and science portions. It allows you to engage in more than just two ways of thinking. With more students taking the ACT, more colleges are accepting those scores over the SAT.This is fair because it gives students another option.

I am not a supporter of tests determining how smart someone is. I think we should dispose of both the SAT and ACT. This way colleges can get to know the student personally, not based on a test score. However, I do believe that if there was some sort of testing needed by colleges, then we should go with a test that measures strengths and weaknesses. A test like the ASVAB would be one way to go. This test is aptitude-based, measuring everything from word knowledge to mechanical comprehension. This could even potentially help student to decide on a major in college or a branch of service.

Image from images.military.com

Another thing that could be done about the SAT is to change the format. Instead of the SAT measuring just math, reading, and writing, it could measure a variety like the ASVAB, only not in the context of military service. This way it is more fair towards people who have different strengths and abilities. In the meantime, parents can encourage and support their kids when they take the SAT. Additionally, they should be informed about both the SAT and ACT.

Reading this article stirred up some anger because I do not believe it is fair to make the SAT more reading heavy. As a person who took the SAT three times to get a score that was semi-acceptable, I believe that the SAT does not give educators enough information to judge someone academically. I am a good student but I have severe testing anxiety. This makes me score low on tests but get good grades in my classes. That is just one example of why the SAT needs to either be reformatted or completely discontinued.

]]>https://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/2016/02/18/the-sat-becomes-more-reading-heavy/feed/01bWW9fI-purple-backgroundbekahenchiladaSAT1College-Just-AheadACT_logoasvab-maintitleMy Journey as a Readerhttps://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/2016/01/28/my-first-post/
https://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/2016/01/28/my-first-post/#respondThu, 28 Jan 2016 00:32:04 +0000http://bekahreadingblog.wordpress.com/?p=7Read more "My Journey as a Reader"]]>Reading is essential to live. It gives us a chance to life through someone else’s story and world. Every experience that the readers lives through, through reading helps develop a more creative imagination. There is just something about books that feel like an escape. It gives the readers a chance to live in someone else’s life for a while. Whether this is good or bad is up to the reader.

From goodreads.com

Reading has always been something I have enjoyed. Ever since I was little my parents would read to my sister and I before we would go to bed. I remember my dad reading us books such as Charlie the Caterpillarand Harold and the Purple Crayon(which he called Greg and the Green crayon). There was something about these books that always stuck out to me. Both books were full of pictures that pleased me every time I saw them.

Bookcover from greenlightbookstore.com

The first time I ever read a book was in kindergarten. My mother sat with me through the entire time I read it. The book was a Strawberry Shortcake one and I could not get enough of reading after that. I remember how difficult it was for me to read those words that were written, and how my mom sat there helping me sound them out as I read. After I had finished the book I could not have been more proud, and I could not wait to read more.

First grade through fourth grade I read a lot more than I had in kindergarten. It was not until fifth grade when one of my teachers got me hooked on a book series. His name was Mr. Harper and he taught math and English. One of the books we read in class was called Honus and Me by Dan Gutman. This book was about a young boy who had a rare Honus Wagner baseball card, and realized he had the power to time travel. After we had finished this book I had already started on the others in the series. Every time I went to that class I hoped my teacher would ask
me about the books. I wanted to talk to someone about them and share my appreciation of books as well.

Photo from childrensbookalmanac.comwanted someone to talk to about them, to share a similar appreciation and love for them.

Sixth grade is when I started really getting into reading books related to history. I started to have an obsession with learning about the
Holocaust, and thought books would help quench the desire to learn more. I picked up any book relating to the Holocaust that I could find. I have now read countless memoirs, historical fiction, diary entries, anything I could find. This obsession has lasted me to this day. By reading personal stories this has shaped the way I read. It has made me appreciate reading other’s stories, which has lead to my love of memoirs, and it has challenged me to lookat the author’s point of view.

When I started high school, after I transferred to Herron, I began to find a love of newer books. All of my English teachers at Herron encouraged me in some way to read more and think about what I read in a different way. One teacher in particular, Ms. Chapman, was probably the most influential here. I took her AP English Literature my senior year and will never look at what I read, whether it is a newspaper or a simple poem, the same way. Ms. Chapman taught me about archetypes and how literature uses them. This really helped when the class read Shakespeare’s Hamlet. I saw Hamletas a bunch of archetypes. Now when I read mention of water, I think of it as a cleansing or renewing of something. Now I am always thinking about why the author uses the symbols he or she

Photo from pagepulp.com

does. I also wonder why it is significant to the piece of literature, and what the author is trying to convey and portray through words.

I believe that the reader I have become today has been influenced by many things. To get to this point has also taken time. From reading I have learned a lot. I have learned more about the world, I have learned to respect different types of stories, and I have learned that reading is not just about getting a book finished, it is about getting more out of the words that are written on the page. My view of reading has mainly been for pleasure. Now that I am in college, and have to read more dense material, I have to look at reading in different ways. From all of my past experiences with reading, and how I have grown as a reader, this will be a new challenge I must face. Hopefully from this I will be shaped even more into an even more advanced reader.